The Finn's page

So I've been submitting stuff on a pretty regular basis, and I find the process I'm using to handle the attached SDF to be quite cumbersome. I print it out, fill out the info in black pen, and then scan it in Photoshop. I don't like the quality it comes out at, I think it's too big, the file size is too big, and then I mess with it to get the file size down and worry if I've made the quality so low the guys at Paizo won't be able to read it, etc. I end up taking as much time messing with the SDF as I do creating an article or query.

What do you guys do? Does anyone have a system that's fast and easy?

I'm working on a high level druid NPC, and was wondering what the official line was on a stat block for animal companions? Would just the one line listing his type and MM page do, or does he need more? What do the editors prefer?

I've been focusing on CW articles lately, and one resource I would love to have is an index of all the CW articles that have appeared so far, so I don't duplicate work or waste my time developing an idea that is very similar to one that was published.

In what issue was the Campaign Workbook section published for the first time? My buying habits on Dungeon have been spotty over the last few years, so I only have a few issues to go on. I'm buying back issues, but if someone has every issue since CW began, and can just quickly throw something together, it would be a huge help.

So I'm about to submit my first Campaign Workbook article in a long time, and I want to make sure I'm not breaking any rules, or doing anything the editing team doesn't like.

It's a full article, 2 1/2 pages. I've used the official style sheet, and formatted it as appropriate. All the pages are numbered, and it is titled with my name underneath on the first page only. Should I title/author the other 2 pages? I included the word count on the first page, do you want that on the other 2 pages as well? Any other things I am missing?

So what seemed like a great CW idea a week ago now looks like a perfect candidate for the recycle bin at the Paizo offices. Does anyone else get this? You get what you think is a good idea, you work hard on it, you get to about 85% done, and then you look at it and think "This is crap. Why am I wasting my time on this?" I start to question it's worth, and comparing it in my mind to what's in Dungeon currently, it never seems to stack up. I swear it happens to me all the time. It seems like I run out of steam, and then I instantly get down on the idea, my writing, etc. I just don't have the energy to finish it, and I feel like it will be rejected anyway, so why bother? I don't even wait for the official rejection, I get a head start on it by being super critical of my own work.

It's probably partly my personality, because I am prone to bouts of dark cloud-itis, but I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this, and what you do to overcome it, recharge your batteries, and stay positive to keep writing?